Sterilizer and drier.



y '-A. JENSEN.

STERILIZER AND DRI'ER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I6. 1916.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

- 4 SHEETS-'SHEET i.

A. JENSEN.

STERILIZER AND DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I6. I9'I6.

I II I IIIIII| III Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET?.

A. JENSEN,

snmuzm ANDl nmER. y APPLICATION FILED NOV. I6. 1916. I'

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. this specificatlon.

UN En sT-ATES IPATENT: oEEroE;

AAGE JENSEN, oE LONG IsLANn CITY, .NEW` YOEK.-

sTEnInrzEn' AND DEIEE.

To all whom t may` concern: T Y

Be it known that I, AAGE JENSEN," a citizen of the United States, 'residing at LongvIsland City, in the .county'of Queens' and State of New York, have invented certain" new and useful Improvements in Sterilizers and Driers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and'exact description of the-same', reference being had t0 theaccompanying drawings, forming part -of -The present invention relatesI -to appa-l ratus designed for use in the cleansing, sterilizing and dryingl of food containers, and

in the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated and described in the following'specification, the apparatus is moreA esv pjecially designed for sterilizing and' dry- :liable to germ infection, the construction, arrangement and correlation of thegparts dated May v8, A1,909., 'as Well as upon the struc- 'vember 9,1915, .aerial- 111g cans or containers such as are commonly employed in the shipment and storage of milk and similar food products which are constituting the present invention being an improvement "upon thel structure shown in the-'prior patent to applicant, No. 958,138,

ture `shown in a Cpriorjlication filed No.

60,609. .The apparatus adoptedfoi" illustrating the improvements and as. shown inthe accompanying drawings, is .fdesi'gned,vv as before stated, for use in connectionwith milk and cream transportation and storage cans," but it is not intended-'to limit' the invention to any particular construction adapting for' cleansing, sterilizing anddrying a 'par- 5 or operating parts.

- ent improvements.

vticular type. of container, inasmuch fas Aby simple and obvious modifications of the con-1 .V tainer supporting vparts or increase, on de."` crease in the number of lsuch supporting' operation with many .different Varieties of containers without changes or modifications.

in the construction of the effective working y Referring to the accompanying. draw-f Figure fi'is' a front elevation withpa'rts 'i broken away and in; section .of a sterilizing'. and drying apparatus embodying thepres-l Fig. 2 is a similar .view looking atthe right hand end oftheapparatus s hown'in` Figl. Fg- 3 is a tOP Plan View Qfthesame.

- Specification of Letters the same.

Patent.

Fig. is 'a detail view illustrating the` co.-

operating control between the ai-rand-steam admlsslonvvalves. i

Fig. 5 is a top plan View on anl enlarged scale of` onev ofthe valve chamber and re- Fig. 10 is a transversev section ina plane 'Patented Ang. 7; 1917.' applicati@meaN'ovemb'er16,'191e.-L seria1No.131,-7o9.. i

sectional view onthe line/6 6 at substantially the .center of the' valve shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig.. 11 is ,a #view looking hand or rear end of the valve .shown in .figures indicate the same parts. Theapparatus is particularly. designed foruse in creameries Aand dairy product plants, where it is desirable .that each ieee of apparatus, so far-'as m'ay be, sha l bel self-contained, and inasmuch as in accomplishing the objects .for which the apparatus is' designed, it is necessary to have availi able .a supply ofwater heated toa cleansing and sterilizing temperature, .also a supply 0f steam; at aftemperaturefwhich will eifect sterilization and create conditions Anecessary 'for' rapid drying,`and a 'supplyof air in large volume also' heated to'a drying and' preferably st eifilizing` temperature, means are provided` whereby, due. to 1an. intermittent actionof the's'everal functionsgof the machine','namely, cleansing, sterilizinlg and drying-a single source of heat in the form lof steam-'may :be employedv for providing the .necessaryl vwater condensation of 'the vsteam,"'supplyingthe steam itself,v andx sup plyin'g the" heat for raising lthe temperature nofthe .1a-ir to.; the desired degree. .For eX- ample, the heating of the airA will necessarily at the right I '75 Like letters of reference yin the 4several.

cause condensation of the steam andthewater'1;of condensationL .is utilized asl A the cleansing water, and by'intennittentoperation the .discharge of the;V cleansing water .will be automaticallyv `followed by a dischargegofastean, and when the steam' disnextl in termittent opera- 'charge :iscut offv and the air supply 'opened @forv drying a furthercondensatlon of steam is effected for, the` Inj Said. drawings, a steam coil is provided connected by reverse bends, thestea plyV being connected with .one fend of the; pipe, preferably the top,`as indicatedfby the' steam inlet B, vWhile'the discharge-.is from` 1 the bottom, Vas indicatedA by the discharge f of. side walls E, the latter being prefera preferably v1in the formpfa .itng .length of pipe A arranged IlPlallel"Sectionsfgand formed with sheet metal inner and. outer faces and internal non-heat conducting ller,"such, for example, as asbestos' packing. The upper edges of the sidewalls sup" port atop casting `F which in general contour is curved from `front to re/arand extends adistance. beyond the side walls, thus Iforming a' roof-like" structure which will drain to the edges should any water or other V'substance tend to lodge thereon. v f

`.The top and bottom castings are held together, clamping the side walls betweeni them, by long vertical bolts e, and the sev- `eral lengths of the steam coil are spaced and heldrmly in place by spacers e carried .by/the bolts so that the whole casing forms a compact.' and rigid structure.

f y The top casting F is formed with seats 0rA bracket bases F upon which the valve and i' vreceptaclel supporting brackets and the pump base may be mounted, as will presvently appear, and in addition, .each bracket base is provided with a central opening' for the flow of air into or out of the steam coil chamber.

An airforcing apparatus, vpreferably in.

the form of a rotary or centrifugal blower G is mounted on a central rear bracket base with its discharge opening communicating with the steam coil chamber preferably cen-l trally on the rear lportion of the top casting, as at G and for driving this pump it may be combined with a power unit such as the electric motor G2, although it will be understood that the motor is optional and a driving pulley maybe substitutedtherefor in accordance with ordinary practice, depending upon the available power for operating the blower. Air from the blower 1s forced into the steam coil chamber. and caused to flow downwardly over the portion of the coil in the rearpart' of the chamber by abale plate H which plate is preferablyrcentrally arranged longitudinally of the chamber, and extends downwardly a .sufficient distance to force the air entering the rear of the chamber to vdescend nearly to the bottom and then to ascend in the front portion of the chamber in reaching thedischarge openings.

The latter, in the articular apparatus illustrated, are openings in .thethree bracket bases F,shown in Fg- 1, although the number is optional and may Ibe increasedv or decreased in accordance with SUP-1.5

the capacity desired Three, however, have been shown by practice to be an economical number, inasmuch as a single attendant may, with three stations,occupy his time fully in handling the receptacles and at the same timeprovide sufficient intervals of time between the cleansing, sterilizingand drying of each receptacle or container to cause the desired intermittent action, whereby the 'wa- .ter of condensation, steam-and airheated to l'-tory valve preferably a barrel or cylindrical valve `shown in detail `in Figs. 8 to 11.

Above the valve seat the bracket is furcated or provided with two discharge branches I and I2, respectively, one preferably slightly 'larger than the other, and each adapted to form the support for a receptacle supporting spider or plate K, K. The spider or plate K is adapted to receive and support an inverted milk can, for example, while the spider K which isof somewhat smaller diameter is adapted to receive a milk can cover or top, the discharge openings in the bracket I being arranged more or'less centrally of the plates so that air passing up through the bracket will be discharged into the receptacle and cover respectively.

The valve M, shown in Figs. 9 to 1l, is mounted in the bracket so as to be capable of oscillatory movement therein, under the control of a handle M applied to the valve stem m and movement of the valve in one direction or the other is preferably limited by the set screw-m', best seen in Fig. 1. The valve is provided with a cut oill portion M2 which may be moved to close communication with the hot air chamber below, or so as to open said communication and permit the iiow of heated air from the chamber up through the discharge bracket.

The lower or discharge end of the steam coil at C is in communication with a pipe connection N and this pipe connection is provided with two valves, one N through which the steam coil may be blown out or the waterof condensation discharged to a suitable drain, and the other N2 *through which the water of condensation and steam may pass to the receptacle or container supporting brackets, under supplementary valve control to be now described. The pipe connection N extends up to the top of the steam coil chamber, and thence horizontally in rearof the brackets I. In proximity to each valve M a discharge connection is led away from the pipe N, and for each disico ' .25 tance to effect the opening of the quickffa f o `thegvalv'e M in ythe Opposite directionlthI- -sa'id quick action steam valve will autof i charge connection there isv aquickfaction auf ` chine has been installed conveniently in the.

operating room and it is desired to begin all of j the valves we willv assume are closed. The' .O is located inpositi'on to air, l'although due re proper drainage so-t cated at water and steam through thecontainer cover.

supporting plate SK.V f 'l The valve stem 'o of the quick action'valv operated'by a leverQ pivotally mounted at q on the rear part of the bracket I, and'tlli'islever in turn is adaptedto be' operatedb3Tl` astud or rojection Q on the rear'jend of the valve' the.. arrangementf:being-prefs, erably such that whilevalve M is: in;4 posi.-

air or steam vcoil chamber and without mov-'L ingthe valve to open thatcommunication, it may be turned. reversely a suficientidis-- tion steam valve O, and upon movement matically close and a' continued movement A suitable steam pressure gage and-Siphon.

Ris connected with-.the high pressure vsteam radiating coil 'in 'the chambernand located at a .convenient point for observation bythe attendant, and. in the arrangement of the radiating coi-l in the j chamber it is preferred r that the steam shall enter the coil.y in that part -of the chamber near the outlet for the ard must be had-to aat water ofcondensas tiongwillflow downto' the bottom 'ofthe coil where it may be vdischarged throu'gh'the discharge-connection C and when desiredwill accumulate in the lower portion 'of the coil in position to be lblown out bythe steam pressure during-the rinsing operatiqm..

" In operation, and assuming that the 'mae cleaning and sterilizing operations,

valve B is rst opened, permitting full pressure of steam to enter the coil. When the pressure records a'constant pressure on the gage R, preferably between and 100 pounds, the drain valve N. is opened to let out the accumulated water condensed in the be struck andi ,placed "overV thef'nezt bracket-1 when-the' handle M at the.; bracket-is' reversed, l thereby permitting the quick acting-[valve to 1; close and-.jat .the same-'time' peningthe'air ivalve, permitting hotisterileairgto p'as's frojr'n ,as that` herein describedfshows that' eflective @practica- 1 4resultsjcan be obtained i'fioperated y fseconds',the temperatur-'e of .the water'vary- `..coil,.after wbich ythe valve 4is closed and the valve O, see Fig. 4,'ada'pted. to be cp ened by pressure on' its valve stem Ao. Fromeachquick. action valve two discharge nozzles are adapted to discharge the waterofcondens'a--.- tion and steam upwardly through the plates- K, K, respectively.' One ofthesfe noz zl es, that indicated at P, is adaptedto dischargef the water` and steam" throughf the containerv`4 supportin plate K, while the other, indigg.; is adapted vto discharge-"the,"

regulating valve N? isv opened very slightly, -z'lhi'sfwill vper-miti'fullfstear'n pressureon' the.

spective openings in Stands vided "fo thatwpprpose.: 11e cover :iis

, nder rrriiilticallyy bec uinue'd d1-each succeeding- -abie and at 'regulated amount "of condensed sterile' waten'- j 'Y moisture `fromv -the can-Sand .CQY-

ylio

provided, of" course, itis not :permitted nto.- '-1 ecome re'contaminated.

'. .Longjcontinued use of auapparatus'isuch as follows-z The cannnd .covers should be subjectedto the rinsing el'ectffor about lsiX ing from 212*to 214 F., The cans-should 1204 4be subjected tov thev laction of .steam forV a periodv of. about vfifteen seconds, and the steamwill likewisejbe at a vtemperature of from '212 to 214. F. For the drying operation the cans should be subjected to the hotfair blast. for-a period of abouttwentyfig; selfonds andthe air should register about 2 Q What is claimed is: 1. In an apparatus such as described, the

. @if the heating chamber ugpA4 through. the dopen# -1 ings ,of- 4the bracket into andaroundg.the` con .tailler and cover. The operations .arecn--- hot. sterile vair which-retrieves vfflyparticlecof; 1

fac-mafia# futuretreatment unnecessaryr're'gardless".of-

theflengthoftime."thecanisileft standing,

`f,c`ombination "with fa ,hot air chamber and aA 'iheat radiating/'fSteamCOll ill' Said Chamber of a Iblowerv forffrcinglir to travel through' f cession. v n -v u 3. In an apparatus such as described,the A. combination with ahot air chamber, a heat I combination' with a hot air chamber, a heat said chamber-,vasupportjfor a container to be-cleansed and sterilized, discharge outlets forthe het air'chamber andsteam coil both arranged in position to discharge into a containe'"` held bv the support, -an'd 'correlated valves controlling the said hot air and Steam discharge4 outlets, whereby either may be :opened'fand either or both closed;

2'. In an apparatussuch as described,ther combination with a hotlair chamberga heatj. radiatingT steam coil in 'said chamber having a steam'inlet at the top and a discharge air into the sameLoffa supportofor a conf tainer to be cleansed and sterilized, a discharge outlet for `the hot air chamber lead Ying from the top of the hot air chamber into a position to discharge into a container heldi by the Support, an outlet connection for the' steam coil leading 'from the bottom of the -steam coil int'a positionfto discharge into a container held bythe support, and corref p latedvalve mechanisms controlling said air said'pipeand located respectivelyv in proxand steam discharge connections, whereby the discharge'- of water of condensation, steam and hot-l air may abe effected in sucradiating v steam coil in said chamber and a blower for forcing air into the chamber, a furcatedbracket monnted on the chamber and having air, discharge passages through its` branches, container supports mounted on the arms of said bracket, a valve 'controlling the iow or"v air through the bracket, a steam discharge connection leading from the bottom of the coil into position to discharge through the container supports, and a` valve for controllingthe steam discharge.

y 4. In anapparatu's such as'describe'd, the

radiatingsteam coilinfsaid chamber, and

' la blower f orforcing air through-the'chamber, a support for a container to be A cleansed and sterilized. a discharge. outlet for the hot air chamber located in position to dis-4 charge into,v a container held by the support, a steam discharge connection leading `from the .bottom of the coil into a position .to discharge into said container and two valves located in said steam discharge connection, one for closing and opening the discharge and theother for regulatingthe steam passing to the discharge: r 5. `In an apparatus such as described, the combination with a hotair chamber, aheat' the chamber, of a support for a 'container .to `be cleansed and sterilized, a discharge .outlet for the hot air chamber located,injposition to discharge into the container Vheldby the v support, a steam dischargeileading from kthebottom of the steam coil into laf-position :f to `discharge into said container, aregulating' valve in said steam dischargeffor con trolling the flowl ofsteam, and correlated valves located in the -air'jand steam 'dis charges'respectivelyfior opening and clos- `ing thesanie.v l "6" In an alparatus such as described, the

combination` withV a hot air chamber, a 'heat 'f regulating steam coil in said chamber, and,

`a blower communicatingl with the chamber 'for forcing air into the same, of aplurality of supports. j for containers to be cleansed and sterilized mounted on Vsaid hot air chamvber, independent airdischargeducts leading ,from the chamber to: therespective sup- `ports,-' steam discharge pipe connection leading from the bottom of the steam coil l and having aregulating valve therein, in-

dependent discharge nozzles i supplied by imity tol the respective container supports,

independent valves for said discharge noz- "zles, and independent air valves controlling the discharge of air v.the supports.

In apparatus combination with a Vhot air chamber, a heat lfrom the chamber to radiating steam coil in said chamber and a Ablower communicating with said chamber for forcing air-into the same in contact with the coil, a plurality of brackets mounted on said chamber and having air discharge ducts therethrough, container supports mounted on said brackets-in position to hold contain ers forrec'eivingthe discharged air, steam nozzles located in position to discharge into containers held by'sa'id brackets, a pipe consteam, andthe secondr to permit of the discharge of air, whereby'the air in the air chamber is reduced in temperature to effect condensation of vsteam in the production of water -`for the next operation. s

' AAGE JlillSlT/l.YV

suchl as described, the 

